Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V a a D E VOLUME 19 NO 32 SEP 9 - 15, 2009
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Estonian Review E E S T I R I N G V A A D E VOLUME 19 NO 32 SEP 9 - 15, 2009 GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS EU Foreign Ministers COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS Addressed Prospect of Estonia-Brazil Visa Freedom 14 September - At the meeting of European Union foreign ministers on Monday night, the topic of discussion was issues related to the reciprocal visa freedom agreement between the European Union and Brazil. The foreign ministers also discussed preparations for the European Council and matters connected to ensuring energy supplies. Foreign Minister Paet stated that the negotiations over the visa freedom agreement have already lasted five years, but the fact remains that the citizens of four member states—Estonia, Latvia, Malta and Cyprus—still need a visa to enter Brazil. “We hope that the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet with Foreign Minister of Sweden, the parties involved can find a current EU presidency, Carl Bildt, 14 September. compromise on the text of the Council of the European Union agreement and that the visa freedom Paet: Time to Strengthen Ties Between European Union agreement will be ready by the and Southern Caucasus European Union-Brazil summit taking place on 6 October,” Paet stated. 15 September - Foreign Minister Urmas Paet participated in the Paet said that Brazilian citizens can European Union external relations council in Brussels. The enter all European Union member European Union’s partnership with countries of the Southern Caucasus states without a visa. “This is why we and the situation in Afghanistan were discussed. hope for clear decisions on visa The European Union foreign ministers discussed the development of freedom from the next European further co-operation between the EU and the Southern Caucasus Union-Brazil summit,” Paet stated. countries—Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Foreign Minister Urmas The European Union foreign Paet stated that the partnership and co-operation agreement signed ten ministers also discussed how to years ago is expiring, so now is an appropriate time to update the ensure energy supplies, including the agreement base between the European Union and the Southern issue of connecting energy Caucasus countries. “In order for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to infrastructure and energy supply have tighter economic relations with the European Union, it is necessary systems among the member states. to begin negotiations for a new framework agreement,” said Foreign They also discussed the progress of a Minister Urmas Paet. “European Union Eastern Partnership, which began mechanism to deal with crises. For this year in May within the framework of the Neighbourhood Policy, also ensuring European security, Foreign calls for a new association agreement with our partners in the Southern Minister Paet stated that Estonia Caucasus,” said Paet. Estonian Foreign Minister Paet expressed hope supports the diversification of that the European Commission would begin negotiations very soon. suppliers as well as establishing “However, the success of the process will be determined first and supplementary energy connections foremost by the political will and preparedness of the Southern Caucasus among member states and the countries, as well the progress they have made in fulfilling their creation of a common energy responsibilities,” Paet noted. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that we market. “An essential step in must also work to facilitate relations between people and the movement developing the Nordic-Baltic energy of people, and also to discuss matters related to simplifying visa policy. market is the approval of energy The EU foreign policy leaders agreed that during the past few years, the connections between the Baltic Sea European Union and the Southern Caucasus as close neighbours have region states,” said Foreign Minister come to rely on each other more in matters of mutual security and Paet. energy as well as economic matters. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Southern Caucasus of Georgia. At the meeting, Prime Minister Ansip stated that Estonia and Georgia are good partners in (continued from page 1) several international organisations and the relations Foreign Minister Paet stated that there are three between the countries are good. basic principles of further co-operation between the At the meeting, economic co-operation was the European Union and the Southern Caucasus, which main subject, but political issues were also are involvement, an individual approach, and discussed. “Estonia respects the territorial integrity conditionality. and sovereignty of Georgia,” Prime Minister Ansip In talking about Afghanistan, the foreign declared. ministers agreed that first of all it is necessary to The prime minister of Georgia thanked the people wait for the official confirmed election results and of Estonia for the support given to Georgia, after that to proceed with a more profound analysis especially during difficult times. According to him, of the situation. The foreign policy leaders talked Georgia has conducted many reforms where the about the new European Union strategy for lessons learned from Estonia have been put into Afghanistan and Pakistan that is being compiled, practice. which will hopefully be approved at the next foreign The prime ministers also opened a business ministers’ council. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet seminar with entrepreneurs from both Estonia and believes that the better co-ordination and Georgia today. Ansip stressed that regardless of the harmonisation of the activities of the European liberal business climate and good business Commission and the member states, as well as the conditions of Georgia, economic relations between co-ordinated co-operation of NATO and the the two countries are not very extensive; Georgia is European Union, are of key importance. in 86th place in the ranking of trading volume. “This “In order for the actions of the European Union in means that both Estonian entrepreneurs and Afghanistan to be more effective than before, it is Georgian businesses have great potential for necessary for the new action plan to be as concrete successful business,” Ansip said. “Above all, I see as possible, containing a detailed list of what needs great opportunities in the field of IT and to be in each sector and how it will be achieved,” telecommunication and in the exporting of emphasised Paet. technology to Georgia, but there are co-operation opportunities in other fields as well; in agriculture, Brazil for example,” he added. (continued from page 1) “Estlink2 and NordBalt are of key importance to the Nordic-Baltic energy market,” noted Paet. The Estonian foreign minister expressed hope that the co-financing of energy projects set out by the European Economic Recovery Plan will happen smoothly. Foreign Minister Urmas Paet believes that the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine at the beginning of this year and its effect on energy supplies showed how important it is to ensure strong mechanisms for tracking the functioning of the an energy market and reacting to a crisis. “Reaching an agreement to fill the gas depositories and reform the gas sector in Ukraine is one positive step in this sector,” asserted Foreign Minister Paet. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip with Georgian The European Union presidency Sweden Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, 14 September. presented the topics of the European Council to take place from 29-30 October. According to Estonian Estonia Helps Create Supplementary Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, important topics that Training System for Afghan Doctors must be addressed at the Council are institutional matters related to the Treaty of Lisbon and 12 September - The Foreign Ministry is discussions of climate change, so that the European supporting MTÜ Mondo in creating a Union can achieve a common position prior to the supplementary training system for doctors in Copenhagen climate conference. “In talking about Helmand Province. regional co-operation in the European Union, the Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that approval and quick implementation of the Strategy developing the health care sector in Afghanistan is a for the Baltic Sea Region is noteworthy,” said very important goal of Estonian development co- Foreign Minister Paet. The economic and financial operation. “In Helmand Province, which has a situation is also on the agenda for the Council. population comparable to that of Estonia, there are only slightly more than 1300 people in the health care sector and fewer than 100 of them are FOREIGN NEWS doctors,” noted Foreign Minister Paet. “Increasing the accessibility of medical care through continuing Prime Minister Ansip Affirms Estonian education will allow for Afghans’ quality of life to get Support for Territorial Integrity of better, step by step,” he added. Georgia The health care workers of Helmand Province lack the opportunity to acquire further medical 14 September - Today Prime Minister Andrus education. According to the Estonian health care Ansip met with Nika Gilauri, the Prime Minister expert in Afghanistan Anu Raisma, the goal of the recognised Estonia’s important and visible military project is to increase the capabilities of health care and civil contribution in stabilising the situation in workers by offering them opportunities for further Afghanistan. Paet said that Estonia contributes to education and training. “At the moment, the most difficult area of Afghanistan—Helmand opportunities for medical workers in Helmand Province—along with British, American and Danish Province to receive any supplementary